It sure looks like the economic meltdown, that put so many homeowners into foreclosure, has also hit the mariners of Orange County pretty hard. If you’re in the market for a used yacht or  boat – you can learn the difference here – one only has to walk around Dana Point Harbor. There are tons of sea-going vessels with for sale signs attached to the bow, stern, port or starboard of the boat/yacht.

Several of the many boats for sale

As you can see this boat is for sale ...

... it's even staged

I’ve been seeing a Hummingbird near our backdoor for the past few weeks. Then, the other evening, when I was taking photos of my garden flowers, I got dive-bombed, by what I thought was a giant bee. Those suckers are called Hummingbirds for a reason, their wings seriously hum.

The papier-mache looking nest

Last evening whilst I was on our patio, I noticed something that appeared to be a little nest in the potted ficus tree, which is literally at our back door. This morning I investigated further. Low and behold it is a nest with eggs in it! Little teeny tiny Hummingbird eggs. Now that I know she is there I’m afraid to go outside.

I just hope I’m around when they hatch. They will be sooo small. If anyone has any suggestions of what we should do/not do please comment away. I am going to get a Hummingbird feeder for her/them. I think she should have a name … any suggestions?

Check out the rest of the photos, after the jump.

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As I was walking into Target (at the Spectrum) this afternoon I noticed a sign announcing “This Location Closed” in front of Kiddie Kandids (located next door to Target and JoS. A. Bank) I also noticed two pieces of paper taped to the window, so I walked over to take a closer look.

I was surprised. It seems, to me anyway, that it was a pretty busy store. I always saw kids dressed up for photos and saw the flash going off. Well, maybe this location was busy, but not others around the nation.

One of the signs posted is from the staff of the Irvine Spectrum store. Based on the verbiage, they were not expecting the shutdown. There is a contact e-mail – lindsaywiser@gmail.com – if you have photos that need to be picked up. It seems like they are going to really try and accommodate their customers.  The other is similar to what the Kiddie Kandids website is showing.

Good luck to all of you that have photos that need to be picked up. Let us know if you were able to get them.

You can read both signs/letters below and they get larger by clicking on them.

Letter to customers of Irvine Spectrum Kiddie Kandids store. Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge.

As I was leaving the Irvine Spectrum Center this afternoon, I saw this. Seriously? You can’t put your cart in the cart return? The best you can do is beside the cart return.

Ugh, so annoying.

Multimedia message, originally uploaded by suprdave89.

I saw this in the sky over Orange a few hours ago. I didn’t know people still did skywriting! I have n’t seen it in years!

I can’t figure out if they’re saying “S ‘heart’ S” or if it’s “SOS” but a heart for the O? Whatever. I’m sure it was very special to the person it was meant for.

So, I was at my local Ralph’s the other day getting fixin’s for sandwiches. As I was waiting for my stuff at the deli counter I looked to my right and saw this …

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The Bandolino shoe store at the Spectrum closed last week. Here’s what it looks like now. I wonder what will open in it’s place. Victim of the economy or are people just not into Bandolino shoes?

Did you know that every Tuesday the Fuddrucker’s in Lake Forest (the one on El Toro) has a car show?

I didn’t.  I just happened to be driving by when I saw these gorgeous specimens in the parking lot.

Oh how I love Classic Cars.  They make me daydream, they make me fantasize, they make me coo softly to them. 

I whisper sweet nothings into their grills. 

See more of what made me melt after the jump…

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The car hit some sort of electrical doodad ... I think.

I was at the Spectrum today when the electricity went out, for a few minutes. I thought it was from all of the air conditioning units working overtime. By the way, didn’t every single weatherperson say it was going to cool down? Whatever.

So anyhoo, this electrical snafu happened around 2:30 p.m. or so. When I was walking to my car, which was parked near Target, a short while later I think I discovered the cause of the short-lived power outage. I’m assuming this car crashed into what appears to be an electrical transformer is what made everything go wonky for a few minutes. However, we all know what it means to assume.

Did anyone else happen to see this? What a bummer of a way to kick-off Labor Day weekend. Speaking of … stay safe everyone!

Two more photos after the jump.

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I know, it’s starting to sound like the beginning of a joke, but … as I was walking through the Irvine Spectrum Center the other day I saw a sign for a Toys R Us Holiday Express store.

Not sure when it’s expected to open, but as you can see in the photo, they are already stocking the store with merchandise. The store is located in the aisle between Nordstrom and Target. It’s located in the spot that has been occupied by a million different things and I don’t remember any of them.

It’s a 100 degrees outside, football season hasn’t officially begun, Halloween is still eight weeks away and we’re already being reminded that Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus – or whatever it is you celebrate or don’t celebrate – is not about being spiritual, but about who gets the most crap. This is just the beginning of “the airing of the grievances.”

P.S. sorry for the poor photo i.e. huge shadow. Unfortunately, I can’t control the turning of the Earth.